The Closer had been branded transphobic and homophobic

 Dave Chappelle's controversial special The Closer has won the 2023 Grammy award for best comedy album.

The show – which was originally released on Netflix – had faced accusations of being transphobic and homophobic, with LGBT rights group GLAAD saying: ‘Chappelle’s brand has become synonymous with ridiculing trans people.’

However, the award judges’ decision to honour Chappelle with his fourth Grammy divided opinion, with fans praising them for recognising his talent.

Chappelle was not at the ceremony, as he is currently in Australia, where his performance in Perth last Thursday turned to chaos when a wild brawl broke out in the audience.

When Netflix aired The Closer, as part of a $60 million four-special deal with Chappelle, staff walked out in protest. Some talent including Dear White People showrunner Jaclyn Moore said they would no longer work with the streaming service.

And when Netflix head Ted Sarandos named comic Hannah Gadsby in a memo to staff highlighting the diversity of views on the platform, the stand-up launched a savage response, saying: ‘Just a quick note to let you know that I would prefer if you didn't drag my name into your mess

‘Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelle's fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets 20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial world view.

‘You didn't pay me nearly enough to deal with the real world consequences of the hate speech dog whistling you refuse to acknowledge, Ted. Fuck you and your amoral algorithm cult.’

Last year, the US Recording Academy, which hands out the Grammys, was widely criticised for giving the best comedy album to Louis CK’s Sincerely, Louis, despite the comedian being exposed for a history of sexual misconduct.

But judges did not let that row stop them nominating him again this year for Sorry, recorded at New York’s Madison Square Garden last summer and criticised for an apparently flippant response to his behaviour.

But Eric Deggans, a broadcaster at National Public Radio, said: ‘Wow. Grammys really don't care; one year after giving an award to admitted harasser Louis C.K., they gave one to Dave Chappelle's homophobic and transphobic Netflix special. Sigh.’

Last year Chappelle was honoured in the spoken word category for 8:46, his raw response to the killing of George Floyd.

The all-male shortlist also included Grammy stalwarts Jim Gaffigan and Patton Oswalt – who have both been nominated seven times – and newcomer Randy Rainbow, known for his political showtune parodies.

Published: 6 Feb 2023